2002 Atlanta Falcons season
Encyclopedia
The 2002
Atlanta Falcons
season was their 37th in the league
. The team improved upon their previous season
's output of 7-9 and qualified for the playoffs for the first time in four years. The team was also involved in a rare tie, matching the Pittsburgh Steelers
34-34 at the end of overtime. This was the most recent tie in the NFL until the Philadelphia Eagles
and the Cincinnati Bengals
tied 13-13 in the 2008 season.
The Falcons debuted in the new NFC South
with what proved to be the first of two meetings at Lambeau Field
with the Packers. After a Ryan Longwell
field goal for the Packers in the first quarter new Falcons starting quarterback Michael Vick
began moving Atlanta's offense and ran in a one-yard touchdown early in the second; not three minutes after Vick's touchdown the Falcons had the ball back and Warrick Dunn
ran in a touchdown. A David Martin
catch from Brett Favre
followed, but the Falcons led 21-10 at the half. Green Bay surged back to the lead on touchdowns by Rondell Mealey
and rookie Javon Walker
for a 27-24 lead. Scores by Dunn and William Henderson left the Packers up 34-31 before Jay Feely
tied it on the final play of regulation. It took nearly ten minutes of overtime before Longwell finished it off with a 34-yard field goal and a 37-34 Packers win.
Atlanta's perennial arch-foe, the Saints had raced to a 6-1 record when they hosted the 3-3 Falcons. The Saints clawed to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, then Michael Vick
and Warrick Dunn
rushing scores put Atlanta up 14-10 at the half. Bob Christian
ran in a score early in the third, but less than two minutes later Aaron Brooks landed a 19-yard touchdown pass to Deuce McAllister
and then caught a two-point pass from Boo Williams
. Two Jay Feely
field goals and a Joe Horn
touchdown made it 27-25 Atlanta early in the fourth before Vick ran 32 yards for another touchdown. The Saints erupted with another McAllister score and a John Carney field goal, but on the final play Feely finished off the Saints from 47 yards out and a 37-35 Falcons win.
Now 4-3, the Falcons began riding momentum as they hosted the 3-4 Ravens. Michael Vick
completed only 12 of 24 passes with one INT and rushed seven times, suffering a net loss of five yards. Despite this the Falcons stayed toe-to-toe with the Ravens, racing to a 17-3 lead in the second before Baltimore tied it. Kicker Jay Feely
booted a 40-yard field goal in the third, and after that the Falcons defense shut out the Ravens enough for a 20-17 Atlanta win.
Former draft bust (and XFL champ) Tommy Maddox
replaced Kordell Stewart
early in the season and the Steelers overcame an 0-2 start to win five of their next six games. The Steelers fell behind 7-3 following a 43-yard touchdown from Michael Vick
to Shawn Jefferson
, but two Maddox touchdown throws put Pittsburgh up 17-7 at the half. After a 59-yard Warrick Dunn
score Maddox found Plaxico Burress
from 62 yards out, but the PAT was blocked. Maddox later found Jerame Tuman
and a two-point throw to Hines Ward
, and the Steelers led 34-17 with ten minutes to go. But Vick exploded on the ground and in the air, racing the Falcons to set up Bob Christian
's one-yard score, then a 40-yard Jay Feely
field goal, and finally an 11-yard rushing touchdown himself with 32 seconds in regulation. Tied at 34 the Steelers clawed within range of a 48-yard field goal try; at this point Falcons receiver Brian Finneran
was put onto special teams, an area he'd never played before; it proved decisive as Finneran blocked the kick. After an exchange of punts Maddox was picked off by Kevin Mathis
, setting up a 56-yard Feely kick in the final seconds of overtime; this kick was blocked, and there was one second remaining. Maddox thus launched a desperation heave of some 60 yards; in traffic it was caught by Burress but he was ruled down at the one-foot line, and the game ended tied at 34, the first NFL tie since 1997. "It's a win for them," said a bitter Joey Porter
. "To come back from 17 points down in the fourth quarter, it's a win for them, a loss for us."
Michael Vick
's running had steadily become a major story in the league, and it became his signature play against the struggling Vikings. It was only the second game between the two clubs since the stunning NFC Title Game upset by the Falcons
and the Vikings were smarting from a 3-8 record. The game lead tied or changed on every score; Daunte Culpepper
ran in a touchdown and connected on a two-yard score to Hunter Goodwin
, while the Falcons behind 227 total rushing yards scored on rushing touchdowns by Vick and Bob Christian
. With the Falcons up 24-21 in the final seconds, the Vikings reached the Falcons 10; Culpepper handed off to Randy Moss
and Moss turned and tossed the ball to Culpepper for an apparent touchdown, but the Vikings were flagged for illegal formation and Gary Anderson booted a 29-yarder. In overtime the Falcons got the ball first and just over two minutes in Vick dropped back to pass from the Vikings 46; with no receivers open he scrambled, then found a hole, cut back right, and raced in the winning touchdown (30-24 final), putting the Falcons at 8-3-1 and still within shot of the division title.
A loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
the following week hurt Atlanta's title chances and they effectively ended against the Seahawks. The Falcons raced to a 17-7 lead in the first half but the Seahawks clawed back and surged to a 21-17 lead after Willie Williams ran back a Falcons fumble in the third. Seattle surged to a 24-17 lead but Vick landed a 12-yard touchdcown into the hands of Trevor Gaylor
with 17 seconds in regulation. The ensuing overtime lasted over ten minutes before Shaun Alexander
burst from the Falcons 27 to finish it off at 30-24.
Week 17 of the 2002 season became a dizzying conundrum with multiple teams battling for a handful of playoff spots in both conferences. The Falcons needed a win over Cleveland or a Saints
loss to Carolina
to make the playoffs, while the 8-7 Browns needed a win and help around the AFC to make it to the club's first playoffs since the original incarnation of the Browns made it in 1994. The Falcons-Browns game and the fate of the two teams' playoff hopes became intertwined with New Orleans vs. Carolina, the New England Patriots
vs. Miami Dolphins
, and the New York Jets
vs. Green Bay Packers
. The Panthers embarrassed the Saints by forcing multiple turnovers and winning 10-6, while the Patriots erased a 24-13 gap to beat the Dolphins; in Cleveland the Falcons clawed to a 16-10 lead after three quarters, but Kelly Holcomb
's touchdown to Kevin Johnson in the fourth was followed by a 64-yard William Green touchdown run. The Falcons raced to the Browns 1-yard line, but two straight runs by Warrick Dunn
were stopped, and the Browns, winners 24-16, now had to wait to see if they would make the playoffs - the Jets got them in by hammering the Packers and thus eliminating Miami and New England, while Atlanta made it in on New Orleans' loss.
The Falcons traveled to Lambeau Field
, where the Packers had never lost a playoff game in their history; thirteen playoff games had been played at Lambeau and the Packers had won all of them. That ended on a bitterly cold night as the Falcons upset the Packers. The Falcons scored first on a ten-yard Michael Vick
pass to Shawn Jefferson
, then Artie Ulmer
blocked a Packers punt at their 1-yard line and scored. The Falcons defense bullied the Packers into three fumbles and Brett Favre
's reputation for playoff recklessness led to two interceptions by Keion Carpenter
. The Falcons rushed for 192 yards, 128 of them split between Vick and Warrick Dunn
, as the Falcons raced to a 23-7 win, Green Bay's first ever home playoff loss.
2002 NFL season
The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.The league went back to an even number of teams, expanding to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. The clubs were then realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each...
Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
season was their 37th in the league
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. The team improved upon their previous season
2001 Atlanta Falcons season
The 2001 Atlanta Falcons season was the Falcons 36th season. The Falcons obtained the first pick overall in the 2001 NFL Draft. With the pick, the Falcons drafted Michael Vick.-Offseason:...
's output of 7-9 and qualified for the playoffs for the first time in four years. The team was also involved in a rare tie, matching the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
34-34 at the end of overtime. This was the most recent tie in the NFL until the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
tied 13-13 in the 2008 season.
Staff
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 8, 2002 | at Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... |
L 37-34 | |
| 2 | September 15, 2002 | Chicago Bears Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 14-13 | |
| 3 | September 22, 2002 | Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL... |
W 30-3 | |
| 4 | Bye | |||
| 5 | October 6, 2002 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West... |
L 20-6 | |
| 6 | October 13, 2002 | at New York Giants New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 17-10 | |
| 7 | October 20, 2002 | Carolina Panthers Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion... |
W 30-0 | |
| 8 | October 27, 2002 | at New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League .... |
W 37-35 | |
| 9 | November 3, 2002 | Baltimore Ravens Baltimore Ravens The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his... |
W 20-17 | |
| 10 | November 10, 2002 | at Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... |
T 34-34 | |
| 11 | November 17, 2002 | New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League .... |
W 24-17 | |
| 12 | November 24, 2002 | at Carolina Panthers Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion... |
W 41-0 | |
| 13 | December 1, 2002 | at Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... |
W 30-24 | |
| 14 | December 8, 2002 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West... |
L 34-10 | |
| 15 | December 15, 2002 | Seattle Seahawks Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team... |
L 30-24 | |
| 16 | December 22, 2002 | Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
W 36-15 | |
| 17 | December 29, 2002 | at Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 24-16 | |
Playoffs
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Card | January 4, 2003 | at Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... |
W 27-7 | |
| Divisional | January 11, 2003 | at Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 20-6 | |
Notable Games
- September 8 @ Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
The Falcons debuted in the new NFC South
NFC South
The NFC South is a division in the National Football Conference of the National Football League. It was created prior to the 2002 NFL season, when the league realigned divisions after expanding to 32 teams. The NFC South currently has four members: the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New...
with what proved to be the first of two meetings at Lambeau Field
Lambeau Field
Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced the original City Stadium as the Packers' home field...
with the Packers. After a Ryan Longwell
Ryan Longwell
Ryan Walker Longwell is an American football placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League. After playing college football for the California Golden Bears, he started his professional football career with the San Francisco 49ers, but never played a game for the franchise...
field goal for the Packers in the first quarter new Falcons starting quarterback Michael Vick
Michael Vick
Michael Dwayne Vick is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League...
began moving Atlanta's offense and ran in a one-yard touchdown early in the second; not three minutes after Vick's touchdown the Falcons had the ball back and Warrick Dunn
Warrick Dunn
Warrick De'Mon Dunn is a former American football running back, and current minority owner of the Atlanta Falcons. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 12th overall in the 1997 NFL Draft, after playing college football at Florida State...
ran in a touchdown. A David Martin
David Martin (American football)
David Earl Martin is an American football tight end who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
catch from Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
followed, but the Falcons led 21-10 at the half. Green Bay surged back to the lead on touchdowns by Rondell Mealey
Rondell Mealey
Rondell Christopher Mealey is a former American football running back in the National Football League.-Early life:Rondell Mealey was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He played high school football at Destrehan High School where he was a teammate of Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed. Mealey was an...
and rookie Javon Walker
Javon Walker
Javon Lataff Walker is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers 20th overall of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State....
for a 27-24 lead. Scores by Dunn and William Henderson left the Packers up 34-31 before Jay Feely
Jay Feely
Thomas James "Jay" Feely is an American football placekicker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. Jay played for the Temple Terrace Spirit Soccer team that won the National Championships when he was 16....
tied it on the final play of regulation. It took nearly ten minutes of overtime before Longwell finished it off with a 34-yard field goal and a 37-34 Packers win.
- October 27 @ New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans SaintsThe New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
Atlanta's perennial arch-foe, the Saints had raced to a 6-1 record when they hosted the 3-3 Falcons. The Saints clawed to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, then Michael Vick
Michael Vick
Michael Dwayne Vick is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League...
and Warrick Dunn
Warrick Dunn
Warrick De'Mon Dunn is a former American football running back, and current minority owner of the Atlanta Falcons. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 12th overall in the 1997 NFL Draft, after playing college football at Florida State...
rushing scores put Atlanta up 14-10 at the half. Bob Christian
Bob Christian
Robert Douglas Christian is a former American football fullback who played ten seasons in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears, the Carolina Panthers, and the Atlanta Falcons from 1992 to 2002. He was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the 1995 NFL Expansion Draft...
ran in a score early in the third, but less than two minutes later Aaron Brooks landed a 19-yard touchdown pass to Deuce McAllister
Deuce McAllister
Dulymus Jenod "Deuce" McAllister is a former American football running back. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
and then caught a two-point pass from Boo Williams
Boo Williams
Eddie Lee "Boo" Williams is a professional arena football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New Orleans Saints in 2001. He played college football at Arkansas....
. Two Jay Feely
Jay Feely
Thomas James "Jay" Feely is an American football placekicker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. Jay played for the Temple Terrace Spirit Soccer team that won the National Championships when he was 16....
field goals and a Joe Horn
Joe Horn
Joseph Horn is a retired American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 1996 NFL Draft, and also played for the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons...
touchdown made it 27-25 Atlanta early in the fourth before Vick ran 32 yards for another touchdown. The Saints erupted with another McAllister score and a John Carney field goal, but on the final play Feely finished off the Saints from 47 yards out and a 37-35 Falcons win.
- November 3 vs. Baltimore RavensBaltimore RavensThe Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
Now 4-3, the Falcons began riding momentum as they hosted the 3-4 Ravens. Michael Vick
Michael Vick
Michael Dwayne Vick is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League...
completed only 12 of 24 passes with one INT and rushed seven times, suffering a net loss of five yards. Despite this the Falcons stayed toe-to-toe with the Ravens, racing to a 17-3 lead in the second before Baltimore tied it. Kicker Jay Feely
Jay Feely
Thomas James "Jay" Feely is an American football placekicker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. Jay played for the Temple Terrace Spirit Soccer team that won the National Championships when he was 16....
booted a 40-yard field goal in the third, and after that the Falcons defense shut out the Ravens enough for a 20-17 Atlanta win.
- November 10 @ Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
Former draft bust (and XFL champ) Tommy Maddox
Tommy Maddox
Thomas "Tommy" Alfred Maddox is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, the XFL and the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at UCLA.-Early years:At L. D...
replaced Kordell Stewart
Kordell Stewart
Kordell Stewart, nicknamed "Slash" , is a former American NFL quarterback. Stewart attended the University of Colorado and was drafted 60th in the 1995 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers...
early in the season and the Steelers overcame an 0-2 start to win five of their next six games. The Steelers fell behind 7-3 following a 43-yard touchdown from Michael Vick
Michael Vick
Michael Dwayne Vick is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League...
to Shawn Jefferson
Shawn Jefferson
Shawn Jefferson , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 9th round of the 1991 NFL Draft...
, but two Maddox touchdown throws put Pittsburgh up 17-7 at the half. After a 59-yard Warrick Dunn
Warrick Dunn
Warrick De'Mon Dunn is a former American football running back, and current minority owner of the Atlanta Falcons. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 12th overall in the 1997 NFL Draft, after playing college football at Florida State...
score Maddox found Plaxico Burress
Plaxico Burress
Plaxico Antonio Burress is an American football wide receiver who currently plays for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers eighth overall in the 2000 NFL Draft...
from 62 yards out, but the PAT was blocked. Maddox later found Jerame Tuman
Jerame Tuman
Jerame Dean Tuman is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan....
and a two-point throw to Hines Ward
Hines Ward
Hines E. Ward, Jr. is an American football player who currently plays the wide receiver position for the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers, where he is the longest-tenured current player on the team. He was voted MVP of Super Bowl XL. He played college football at the University of Georgia...
, and the Steelers led 34-17 with ten minutes to go. But Vick exploded on the ground and in the air, racing the Falcons to set up Bob Christian
Bob Christian
Robert Douglas Christian is a former American football fullback who played ten seasons in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears, the Carolina Panthers, and the Atlanta Falcons from 1992 to 2002. He was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the 1995 NFL Expansion Draft...
's one-yard score, then a 40-yard Jay Feely
Jay Feely
Thomas James "Jay" Feely is an American football placekicker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. Jay played for the Temple Terrace Spirit Soccer team that won the National Championships when he was 16....
field goal, and finally an 11-yard rushing touchdown himself with 32 seconds in regulation. Tied at 34 the Steelers clawed within range of a 48-yard field goal try; at this point Falcons receiver Brian Finneran
Brian Finneran
Brian Finneran is an American football wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 1998...
was put onto special teams, an area he'd never played before; it proved decisive as Finneran blocked the kick. After an exchange of punts Maddox was picked off by Kevin Mathis
Kevin Mathis
Kevin Bryant Mathis is an American football cornerback in the National Football League who is currently a free agent. He has played for the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, and the Atlanta Falcons...
, setting up a 56-yard Feely kick in the final seconds of overtime; this kick was blocked, and there was one second remaining. Maddox thus launched a desperation heave of some 60 yards; in traffic it was caught by Burress but he was ruled down at the one-foot line, and the game ended tied at 34, the first NFL tie since 1997. "It's a win for them," said a bitter Joey Porter
Joey Porter
Joseph "Joey" Eugene Porter is an American football linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Colorado State.A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Porter earned a...
. "To come back from 17 points down in the fourth quarter, it's a win for them, a loss for us."
- December 1 @ Minnesota VikingsMinnesota VikingsThe Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
Michael Vick
Michael Vick
Michael Dwayne Vick is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League...
's running had steadily become a major story in the league, and it became his signature play against the struggling Vikings. It was only the second game between the two clubs since the stunning NFC Title Game upset by the Falcons
1998 Atlanta Falcons season
The 1998 Atlanta Falcons season saw the Falcons qualify for the Super Bowl for the first time under the guidance of second-year head coach Dan Reeves. The team won its final nine games of the season to earn the #2 seed in the NFC for the playoffs and the first-week bye...
and the Vikings were smarting from a 3-8 record. The game lead tied or changed on every score; Daunte Culpepper
Daunte Culpepper
Daunte Rachard Culpepper is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He last played for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League . Prior to joining the UFL, Culpepper enjoyed a successful National Football League career after being drafted 11th overall in...
ran in a touchdown and connected on a two-yard score to Hunter Goodwin
Hunter Goodwin
Hunter Goodwin , is a former professional American football tight end.-College career:Goodwin transferred from Texas A&M–Kingsville to Texas A&M in 1993. While in Kingsville, he was a Lone Star Conference award recipient as a tight end. He walked on to the Texas A&M football team and soon received...
, while the Falcons behind 227 total rushing yards scored on rushing touchdowns by Vick and Bob Christian
Bob Christian
Robert Douglas Christian is a former American football fullback who played ten seasons in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears, the Carolina Panthers, and the Atlanta Falcons from 1992 to 2002. He was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the 1995 NFL Expansion Draft...
. With the Falcons up 24-21 in the final seconds, the Vikings reached the Falcons 10; Culpepper handed off to Randy Moss
Randy Moss
Randy Gene Moss is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
and Moss turned and tossed the ball to Culpepper for an apparent touchdown, but the Vikings were flagged for illegal formation and Gary Anderson booted a 29-yarder. In overtime the Falcons got the ball first and just over two minutes in Vick dropped back to pass from the Vikings 46; with no receivers open he scrambled, then found a hole, cut back right, and raced in the winning touchdown (30-24 final), putting the Falcons at 8-3-1 and still within shot of the division title.
- December 15 vs. Seattle SeahawksSeattle SeahawksThe Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
A loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
the following week hurt Atlanta's title chances and they effectively ended against the Seahawks. The Falcons raced to a 17-7 lead in the first half but the Seahawks clawed back and surged to a 21-17 lead after Willie Williams ran back a Falcons fumble in the third. Seattle surged to a 24-17 lead but Vick landed a 12-yard touchdcown into the hands of Trevor Gaylor
Trevor Gaylor
Trevor Alexander Gaylor is a former wide receiver in the NFL. He was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers....
with 17 seconds in regulation. The ensuing overtime lasted over ten minutes before Shaun Alexander
Shaun Alexander
Shaun Edward Alexander is a former American football running back who played for the Seattle Seahawks and the Washington Redskins. He was drafted by the Seahawks 19th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Alabama.- Early career :Alexander was born and...
burst from the Falcons 27 to finish it off at 30-24.
- December 29 @ Cleveland BrownsCleveland BrownsThe Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
Week 17 of the 2002 season became a dizzying conundrum with multiple teams battling for a handful of playoff spots in both conferences. The Falcons needed a win over Cleveland or a Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
loss to Carolina
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
to make the playoffs, while the 8-7 Browns needed a win and help around the AFC to make it to the club's first playoffs since the original incarnation of the Browns made it in 1994. The Falcons-Browns game and the fate of the two teams' playoff hopes became intertwined with New Orleans vs. Carolina, the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
vs. Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
vs. Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
. The Panthers embarrassed the Saints by forcing multiple turnovers and winning 10-6, while the Patriots erased a 24-13 gap to beat the Dolphins; in Cleveland the Falcons clawed to a 16-10 lead after three quarters, but Kelly Holcomb
Kelly Holcomb
Bryan Kelly Holcomb is a former American football quarterback of the National Football League. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 1995...
's touchdown to Kevin Johnson in the fourth was followed by a 64-yard William Green touchdown run. The Falcons raced to the Browns 1-yard line, but two straight runs by Warrick Dunn
Warrick Dunn
Warrick De'Mon Dunn is a former American football running back, and current minority owner of the Atlanta Falcons. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 12th overall in the 1997 NFL Draft, after playing college football at Florida State...
were stopped, and the Browns, winners 24-16, now had to wait to see if they would make the playoffs - the Jets got them in by hammering the Packers and thus eliminating Miami and New England, while Atlanta made it in on New Orleans' loss.
- January 4, 2003, NFC Wild Card Playoffs @ Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
The Falcons traveled to Lambeau Field
Lambeau Field
Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced the original City Stadium as the Packers' home field...
, where the Packers had never lost a playoff game in their history; thirteen playoff games had been played at Lambeau and the Packers had won all of them. That ended on a bitterly cold night as the Falcons upset the Packers. The Falcons scored first on a ten-yard Michael Vick
Michael Vick
Michael Dwayne Vick is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League...
pass to Shawn Jefferson
Shawn Jefferson
Shawn Jefferson , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 9th round of the 1991 NFL Draft...
, then Artie Ulmer
Artie Ulmer
Charles Artie Ulmer is a former professional American football linebacker in the National Football League. He played for the Minnesota Vikings , the Denver Broncos , the San Francisco 49ers , and the Atlanta Falcons ....
blocked a Packers punt at their 1-yard line and scored. The Falcons defense bullied the Packers into three fumbles and Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
's reputation for playoff recklessness led to two interceptions by Keion Carpenter
Keion Carpenter
Keion Eric Carpenter is a former American football defensive back. He played for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League.-Football career:...
. The Falcons rushed for 192 yards, 128 of them split between Vick and Warrick Dunn
Warrick Dunn
Warrick De'Mon Dunn is a former American football running back, and current minority owner of the Atlanta Falcons. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 12th overall in the 1997 NFL Draft, after playing college football at Florida State...
, as the Falcons raced to a 23-7 win, Green Bay's first ever home playoff loss.